The Best of Big D: Home and Garden 2012

Our editors have sorted through all the top products and services to spruce up your house.

By The D Home EditorsFrom D Home September-October 2012

photography by Stephen Karlisch

BEST LANDSCAPE DESIGN | Bonick LandscapingWhen we were researching our Small Spaces issue (January/February 2012), Glenn Bonick’s name kept coming up when we asked with whom we should talk about bringing the outdoors in to add living space. But Bonick and his team are great at making outdoor areas grand no matter the size.

This once-tiny operation has conquered the breadbaskets of Dallas. Its fine European-style bread and pastries now rule. Chefs call for custom buns and rolls. Caterers buy loaves of unusual breads, such as the walnut scallion, pumpernickel, and braided challah. Customers order rugulah, hot cross buns, muffins, brownies, and small-batch artisan jams. The pane paisano—a classic Italian bread with a crispy crust and a porous interior—is ideal for sandwiches and fit for any kingdom.

You can’t throw the party of the century without all the right stuff. That’s why you call the celebration specialists at POSH. Their inventory includes all the basics—chairs, linens, vases, and more. But what sets POSH apart are the specialty items not usually available as rentals. China by Charles Sadek, Vera Wang, and Tirschenreuth and flatware by Tiffany and Christofle make the company’s Couture Collection tough to beat.

We prefer our children’s furniture with a dose of style and a helping of longevity, and the modern-leaning pieces at Mini Me more than fit the bill. The goods can be pricey, but they’re built to last. Sleek, master bedroom-worthy dressers can be topped with a diaper station for the baby years, while whimsical bedding from DwellStudio and Serena & Lily is just as at home in a nursery as it is gracing a tween’s loft bed. In addition to the big stuff, the shop also carries all the bits and bobs that take a room from good to great.

We love mom-and-pop shops. Colleen and Matt Peterson provide a full-service, custom-cut butcher shop. They will trim any piece of Certified Angus or Prime-grade beef to your specs. The staff is trained to give wine advice. All you need is a grill and a corkscrew.

It’s easy to miss this unassuming shop on Slocum Street—the lights are dim, and the doors are sometimes locked. But Oriental Treasures has been around for nearly 30 years, and it is the go-to place for designers and collectors from all over the world looking for authentic antique Chinese furniture and accessories, including pieces from the Han Dynasty.